Ironing machine



June 24, 1930. R, v. WELLER. 1,767,863

IRONING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 60/ r INVENTOR flaadogalwln-am BY V ATTORNEY'.

June 24, 1930. fW LE 1,767,863

IRONING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1923 6 SheetsSheet 2 VENTOR. l fimgm KMZZW? B2 I BY 7@,% w

4456 ATTORNEYS.

June 24, 1930, v, E ER 1,767,863

IRONING MACHINE flab A TTORNEYS.

June 24, 1930.

R. V. WELLER I RO NING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Illllll Z 54 IJIIIIIIIH IIIIIIVIII IN V EN TOR.

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w A TTORN E YS.

June 24, 1930. WELLER 1,767,863

IRONING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 M 91 0 7 52 a 95 3 Q 8 2 .152

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Patented June 24, 1930 FATE RANDOLPH V. WELLER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TEE.DEXTER. COM- PAN'Y, 0F FAIRFIELD', IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

IRONING Application filed April 16,

The present invention relates to ironing machlnes and more particularly to the type in which an iron and a bed are employed bed. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for effecting the relative movement between the. iron and the bed through the means which effects the turning of the bed. Still another object. is

to provide means which may be readily controlled by the operator of the machine while feeding the work and without undue movement of the hands for effecting cooperation between the bed and the iron and the separation thereof. Still another object of the invention is to provide a controlling member arranged substantially throughout the length of the iron and the bed and in immediate proximity to the feeding point of the ironing machine in a position to have the work travel thereover so that the hands ,of the user of the machine may be readily brought into engagement with the control member for effecting the cooperation and the separation of the iron and the bed. Still another object of the invention is to provide a manually operable means whereby the bed and the iron may be separated independently of the means through which the bed is turned. A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the iron is adapted to occupy two positions away from the bed, one a normal position to which it may be moved during the ordinary use of the iron and the other an extreme position to which it is moved when it is desired tocIean the iron or bed or for other reasons.

Another and still further object is to provide a means by which the heat producing medium to the heating element of the iron is automatically cut off, when the iron is moved away from the bed.

MIACHINE 1923. Serial No. 632,182.

showing the iron in cooperative relation with the bed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve controlling the supply of gas to the gas burner;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 3, showing the iron away from the bed;

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged sections on the line 66, Fig. 3, showing the clutch connection between the driving shaft and the rotary cam, which operates the iron;

Fig. 8 is a section showing the iron in the extreme position away from the bed, the latter not being illustrated in this view;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of one end'of the bed, showing the clutch connection with the cam;

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the clutch controlling lever;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view, showing the meehanism by which the iron may be moved manually away from the bed independently of the camming means;

Fig. 12 isan enlarged section on the line 12-12, Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an end view of the upper portion of the machine;

Fig. 14. is a section on the line lei-14, Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line 15- 15, Fig. 14, the motor being removed and the driving connection between the motor and the shaft of the machine being established;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15, showing the driving connection between the motor;i and the shaft of the machine broken; an

Fig. 17 is a detail sectional view of the mechanism whereby the driving connection between the motor and the shaft of the machine is made and broken.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, there is provided a bed, which, in this instance, is in the form of a sheet metal drum 1 covered by a fabric 2 and having heads 3 at opposite ends keyed to the shaft 4. In this instance, this shaft is journalled in two end frames 5 and 6, the end frame 6 having a goose neck 8 which is secured to the under side of a feeding table or board 7, which also connects the end frames 5 and 6. Inv this way tubular goods, such as dresses, skirts, pillow cases, and the like,

, may be passed over the. roller and under the same and the table. The end frames are each provided with two pair of inwardly extending lugs 1O on which they receiving table 9 is supported. These lugs are connected by pins 10 to which the. upper ends 11 of legs 12 are pivoted, these. legs in turn being connected iri pairs by cross pieces 13 to form two supporting members. Each cross piece has a notch 14 in the upper surface thereof and in this notch a tie bar 15 may be secured by bolts 16 having thumb tie bar 15 may be removed, thus disconnect ing the two supports and permitting the latter to fold inwardly on the under side of the receiving table 9, as shown in perspective in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the compact folding of the ironing machine.

Any suitable means may be employed for turning the bed. In this instance, a gear 18 is provided on one end of the-shaft 4 on the outside of the side frame 5. Mounted on the side frame 5 is a frame 19 which has the motor casing 20 bolted thereto and which is provided with two openings 21 and 22, the opening 22 being in the form of a slot. Thumb bolts 23 and 24, respectively, pass through these openings and the side frame 5, thus permittingthe frame 19 to be swung on the bolt 23 as a pivot. The frame 20 also has a housing 25, which encloses the gear 18 and also supports a shaft 26 which has thereon a pinion 27 and a worm wheel 28. The pinion 27 is adapted to mesh with the gear 18, while the worm wheel 28 meshes with the gear 29 on the shaft of the motor.

. frame 20 is preferably controlled by a cam engagement with the abutment or projec- The position of the at will.

tion to hold this gear 27 in mesh with i the gear 18, thereby driving the shaft 4 from the motor, when desired, as illustrated in Fig. 15, or permitting the gear 27 to move out .of engagement with the gear 18, as illustrated in Fig. 16.

The iron, in this instance, 1s in the form of a curved shoe 33 having a chamber 34 and provided with two armsv 35, which at.

connected at 38 to the upper ends of two links 39, the latter being pivoted at 40 to the side frames 5 and 6. Each link 39 with an arm 37 forms a tog le connection between the main frame of the machine; and the iron. Stops 41 may be arranged on the links 39 to limit the outward swinging movement of the iron, as shown in Fig. 8, by cooperating with the'arms 35. It is apparent that, when the toggle is'moved in a direction to straighten the same, the iron will be moved toward the bed, and that the breakv.ing of the knuckle ofthe toggle tends to move the-iron away fromthe bed. In this inst'ance,' movement of the iron is effected through stillanother toggle connected to an arm 42 extended from one of the arms 37 beyond the pivot 38. This other toggle, 1n-th-1s instance, comprises a link-43 pivoted at 44,

between its ends and pivoted at 45 to the other member 46 of the toggle, this other member, in this instance, acting as alplt man resiliently connected to the arm 42 preferably by providing a sleeve 47 journalled on the arm 42 and having the member 46 posed between the sleeve and an ad]ustable nut 49 on the member 46. The stralghtenwhile the breaking of the toggles 43 and 46" tends 'to break the toggle formed by the members 37 and 39. The controller member 43 is preferably effected by providlng said member with a roller 50', which 00- operates with a cam 51 mounted to turn loosely on the shaft 4, but adapted to be connected with the shaft by a suitable clutch The clutch, connection with the shaft is,

in this instance, established by providing" 105 7 operating therein, a spring 48 be1n 1nter-' guided in the cam member 51, the cam member having a fiat portion with which the clutch member 53 also engages. A spring 56 mounted on the cam member tends to move the clutch member 53 toward clutching position and into the plane of turning of the toothed member 52.

Control of the clutching connection be tween the camming device and the driving shaft is effected by a controlling member 57, preferably in the form of a bar or rod extending parallel with the axis of turning of the drum and, in this instance, being arranged in a longitudinally extending groove or pocket 58 formed in the feeding table 7, so that the goods may be passed over said bar to the roller, while, at the same time, the bar is in a position where it may be readily depressed by the user of the machine. This bar is supported at opposite ends by two arms 59 which are secured to a rod 60 mounted to turn underneath the table 7 and acted upon by a spring 61 to move both the arms upwardly. One of these arms 59 is extended beyond the bar and the extended portion is providedwith a slot 62 through which the shaft 4 extends. This extended portion has also two cam portions 63 and 64 at opposite ends of the slot, one above the shaft and the other below.

' When the finger bar 57 is in normal position, the cam 63 lies in the path of the guide 54 of the clutch member 53, and the portion 64 lies out of such path, whereas, when the finger bar 57 is depressed, the cam portion 63 is moved out of the path of the clutch member 53 and on rotary movement of the cam 180 aboutrthe shaft 4, the portion 64 is moved into such path.

The operation of effecting the movement of the iron toward and from the bed is controlled by the finger bar 57. Assuming that the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 8, the depression of the finger bar moves the cam portion 64 out of the path of the clutch member 53 and permits the latter to move into connection with the clutch member 52, so that the cam 51 will be rotated 180 degrees by the shaft 4, as before the clutch member 53 reaches the cam portion 63, the latter has returned to the position illustrated in Fig. 8 and also in Fig. 6, so that the cam portions 63 will shift the clutch member 53 out of connection with the clutch member 52 and the iron will lie in engagement with the bed, until the finger bar 57 is again depressed, the position of the parts being illustratedin Fig. 3. Again on the depression of the finger bar 57, the cams 63 and 64 will be shifted, the former out of the path of the clutch member 53, so that such clutch member moves under the action of the spring 56 to the position illustrated in Fig. 7, thus establishing connection between the shaft 4 and the cam, and the cam rotates 180 degrees to permit the member 43 to iron, due to the fact that the greater por-.

tion of the weight of the iron lies to one side of the pivot 36. In this movement the spring 48 assists, due to the fact that, in moving the iron to cooperate with the rotary bed, the spring has been placed under compression. Before the cam 51 again shifts the iron, the cam 64 will return to normal position, where it engages the clutch member 53 and shifts the latter out of connection with the drive shaft 4.

Theiron has two positions away from the bed 1, the normal position, illustrated in Fig. 5, which it assumes during the ordinary ironing action, and the other, an extreme position, illustrated in Fig. 8 to which it may be moved for the cleaning of the iron, or the recovering of the bed or for any other purposes which may be necessary. It

is perferably stopped in normal position by a detent or stop member 65, which is pivoted at 66 to the inner face of the side frame 5 and has an operating portion 67 extending to the front of the machine and also a portion 69 cooperating with a stop or shoulder 68 on the side frame. The operating portion tends to hold the nose 69 of the detent in the position shown in Fig. 5 and in the path of an abutment or shoulder 70 on the pivoted member 43, so that the roller 50 on the pivoted member 43 is held from following the depressed portion 71 of the cam' 51. When it is desired that the iron shall move to the extreme position, shown in Fig. 8, then the detent 65 is moved to the position in such figure, so that the abutment 7 0 does not engage the detent and the roller 50 moves into the recess 71 of the cam 51. The release of the detent 65 permits the latter to return to position, so that on the next operation of the machine it will engage the shoulder 7 O.

In some instances, it is desirable to effect the movement of the iron away from the bed independently of the cam 51. This result is preferably secured by mounting the pivot 44 of the member 43 so that it may be shifted in order to permit the iron to move by gravity away from the roller. The shifting of the pivot may be effected through a bell crank lever 72, pivoted at 73 to t e inner face of the frame 5 and having an operating member 74, whereby it may be moved on its pivot. This bell crank lever 72 pivotally connects at 75 with 'a link 76 which in turn is pivotally connected at 44 to a link 77 which supports the pivot 44 and is pivoted at 78 to the side frame 5. It is apparent that, by throwing this pivot 44 upwardly and rearwardly from the positionshown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 11, the member 43 will shift on such pivot 44 using the cam 51 as a fulcrum to the link 76 abuts a shoulder 79 on the bell crank lever, and thus locks the pivot 44 in its normal position.

In the embodiment illustrated, the iron is heated preferably by gas, and to this end the oscillatory or rocking member 36 which connects the two toggles at opposite ends of the iron is in the form of a burner tube which has a longitudinally extending series of openings 80. These openings are so disposed on the tube, that, when the iron 00- operates with the bed, the openings play upon the curved portion of the iron 33, cooperating with the bed. When the iron is thrown away from the bed, the burner tube turns by reason of having the arms 37 with. the knuckles connected therewith and throws the flame issuing from the openings 80 outwardly away from the bed engaging portion of the iron.

Provision is made for cutting oif the supply of gas to the burner tube. This resu t. in this instance, is obtained by providing the burner tube at one end with an arm 81 at one end of the iron with which the supply pipe 82 connects, preferably through a valve casing 83. This valve casing has an inlet 84 connected with the gas supply, and an outlet 85 connected with theburner tube (see Fig. 4.) Between the inlet and out let a valve seat 86 is arranged for engagement-by a valve member 87, the latter being held to its seat by a helical spring 88 and closing communication between the inlet and outlet except by way of a bypass 89. A stem 90 is connected to the valve member and extends to the exterior of the casing.

Owing to the fact that the burner tube turns in the iron, it is possible to utilize this movement for effecting the control of the valve. To thisend, an abutment 91 is provided on the adjacent end of the iron for engagement with the valve stem 90 when the iron is moved toward the bed, so as to move the valve member 87 away from its seat 86.

1 When the iron is moved away from the bed,

the stem 90 moves away from the abutment 91 and the valve member 87 closes under the action of the spring 88, thus cutting off the supply of gas to the burner tube, except by the way of the bypass 89, which supplies a small amount of gas to the tube in order to reduce the su ply of gas to the burner in the iron. In the arm 81 is provided an air opening 92 with which an adjustable sleeve 93 cooperates for the purpose of'vary ingthe amount of air admitted to the burner tube, this sleeve being controlled by the lever 93.

menses It therefore follows that the heating of the iron is dependent upon the relative position between the iron and the bed, the heating of the iron taking place when the iron and the bed cooperate and the heating element being ineffective to heat the iron while the iron and the bed are separated, this result, in this instance, being obtained not only by the turning of the burner to direct the flame away from the back of the ironing surface but also by the reduction of the flame to such an extent that its effect on the iron is practically nil.

In the use of the machine the motor is brought into operation, care first being taken that the gear 27 is in mesh with the gear 18 through the shifting of the control handle 32. This effects the rotation of the bed. The burner is ignited while the iron is away from the bed through the turning of a valve, not shown, to admit gas to the 'at this time being in the position shown in Fig. 3, due to the fact that the two toggles, one formed between members 43 and 46, and the other formed between members39 and 37, are straightened. Should it be desired at this time to separate the iron and the bed independently of the controlling cam 51, the lever 72 is shifted or pulled outwardly through the hand piece 74 thus shifting the pivot 44 so that the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 11. The burner tube 36 during the shifting of the iron toward the bed has had its openings 80 turned to play upon that rear portion of the iron.

which cooperates with the bed. At the same time, the valve plunger 90 has been brought so that the abutment 91 opens the valve and permits a sufiicient amount of gas to pass into the burner tube to produce the heating of the iron. If it is desired to move the iron from the bed thrdugh the cam 51, the finger bar 57 is again depressed-thereby establishing connection between the cam 51 and the shaft 4 turning the cam until the recessed portion 71 is opposite the roller 50 of the lever'43, the iron then falling awa from the bed under its own weight and bot of the toggles breaking at their knuckles,

with the shoulder 70, as shown vin- Fig, 5, unless it is desired that the iron move to the position shown in Fig. 8, when the stop is moved out of the path of the shoulder 7 O permitting the extreme movement of the iron. This movement of the iron away from the bed is assisted by the spring 48 which also performs the function of holding the iron with resilient pressure toward the bed in order to accommodate clothes of different thicknesses.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the iron is moved toward and from a rotary bed but it will be understood that the form of the iron and the bed are immaterial so far as certain features of this invention are concerned. It will also-be understood that any relative movement between the iron and the bed is within the scope of this invention, when considered with respect to some features of the invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ironing machine, the combination of a drive shaft, a rotary bed driven thereby, an iron, mechanism for efiecting a movement of the iron toward and from the bed, a clutch interposed between "the drive shaft and said mechanism for connecting said mechanism with the drive shaft at will, and a heating device for the iron controlled by such mechanism to cause the heating effect of the heating device to be reduced on Itahp1 movement of the iron away from the 2. An ironing machine comprising a rotary bed, a pivotally mounted iron adapted to move toward and from the bed, a burner tube mounted to turn in the iron at one side of the pivotal axis of the iron about an axis parallel with the pivotal axis, said burner tube having jet openings, and a toggle pivotally connected at one end to a fixed part and having operative connection with the burner tube for operating the jet openings to play upon the iron when the latter is in cooperation with the bed and to move away from the iron when the iron is moved away from the bed and meansv including said toggle for moving the irontoward and from the bed coordinately with the movement of the burner tube.

3.'l[n an ironing machine, the combination with a rotary bed and a pivotally mounted iron adapted to move toward and from the bed, of operating mechanism for the iron embodying a toggle having a link mounted on a fixed part and a link pivotally mounted on the iron to one side of the pivotal axisof the iron, said last mentioned link, having an extension, a sleeve pivotally mounted on said extension, a pit- .man slidable in said sleeve, aspring surrounding said p'itman and having abutment against the sleeve and the (pitnian, a link pivotally connected with sai pitman, cammi 'g mean n the shaft of the rotary b d of the iron away from the bed under the action of said mechanism, and means giving, 5

to said stop a tendency to move to stopping position so that, when the iron is move from its extreme position toward the bed,

its next movement away from the bed will u a be limited.

5. In an ironing machine, the combination with a driving means, a rotary bed driven thereby and a pivotally mounted iron, of camming means, a clutch for connecting the camming means with the driving means,- mechanism operated by the cammlng means and connected with the iron to move the latter, and a detent cooperating with the last mentioned mechanism to limit the movement of the iron away from the bed, said detent being movable to permit the full movement of the iron away from the bed.

6. In an ironing machine, the combination with a driving means, a rotary bed driven thereby and a pivotally mounted iron mounted to move toward and from the bed, of camming means, a clutch for connecting the camming means and said driving means, a toggle having a link pivoted to the iron and a link pivotally connected to a fixed part at one side of the pivotal axis of said iron, a pivotally mounted member operated by the camming means and connected with said toggle to eifect the movement of the iron toward and from the bed, and a detent cooperating with said pivotally mounted member to limit the movement of the iron away from the bed, said detent being movable to permit the full movement of the iron.

7. In an ironing machine, the combination with a rotary bed and an iron mounted to move toward and from the said bed, of camming means mounted to turn on the shaft of the rotary bed, a clutch interposed between said camming means and said shaft, operating means for moving the iron toward and from the bed embodying a pivotally mounted link engaged. by the 'camming means to efiect the movement of the link in one direction and a movable detent arranged to cooperate with said link to limit the movement of the iron away from the bed.

8. In an ironing machine, the combination with a rotary bed an iron mounted to move toward and from the bed, of opertion with a rotary bed and an iron, of mechanism for effecting the movement of one of said parts relatively to the other for effecting the separation and the cooperation of i said parts, a feeding table for feeding the for feeding the work between the bed and work between said parts, and controlling means for controlling said mechanism movable relatively to the table and so positioned that the goods passed between the parts from the feeding table must pass thereover.

10. In an ironing machine, the combina-' tion with a rotary bed and an iron movable toward and from the bed, of a feeding table the iron, said feeding table being provided with a recess extending longitudinally of the turning axis of the bed, mechanism for effecting the movement of the iron toward and from the bed, and a controlling bar for said mechanism arranged in the longitudinal recess of the feeding table.

11 In an ironing machine, the combinat1on-w1th a rotary bed and an iron movable toward and from the bed, of a feeding table for feeding the work between the'bed and the iron, mechanism for effecting the move-. ment of the iron toward and from the bed, and a controlling bar for the feeding mechanism movable relatively to the table extending longitudinally of the turning axis 1 of the bed and lying in a position so that goods passed from the. feeding table to the bed must pass over said controlling bar.

12. In an ironing machine, the combination with a rotary bed and an iron movable toward and from said bed, of mechanism for effecting the movement of the iron toward and from the bed, a gas burner for heating the iron, a valve for controlling the supply of gas to the gas burner having a spring closed valve member, said valve being movably mounted on the iron and connected with the mechanism which effects the movement of the iron toward and from the bed, and means on the iron effecting the opening of the valve when the valve is moved into cooperation therewith upon the movement of "the iron toward the bed.

13. In an ironing machine, the combination with a rotary bed and an iron movable toward and from the bed, of mechanism for effecting the movement of the iron toward and from the bed, an oscillatory burner con- -ment of the iron through suc burner, and means for effecting the opening of said valve when the iron is moved toward the bed by'the mechanism.

14. In an ironing machine, the combination with a rotary bed and an iron mounted to move toward and from the bed, of a mechanism for effecting the movement of the iron, a gas burner extending longitudinally of the iron and mounted to'turn about an axis extending parallel with the axis of turning of the bed, said burner having a laterally extending portion at one end, a valve carried by said laterally extending portion and controlling the supply of gas to the burner, and means on the iron for effecting the. opening of the valve as the iron is moved toward the bed.

15. In an ironing machine, the combinaembodying a side frame, a gear connected tothe rotary bed and arranged at one s1de of the side frame, a motor su porting frame "pivotally mounted on the si e frame, and a gear carried by the motor supportlng frame Y and movable with the motor supporting frame into and out of connection with the gear connected to the bed. 7

17. In anv ironingmachine, the'combinw tion with a rotary bed and an iron movable toward and from the bed, means for supporting-the bed and the iron embodying a side frame, a gear connected to the bed and arranged on the outer side of the side frame, a motor supporting frame pivotally mounted on the side frame below the gear and having a housing enclosing the gear, and

a gear mounted on the motor supporting frame and movable with the latter, into and out of cooperation with the gear connected to the rotary bed.

18. In an ironing machine, the combination with a rotary bed and an iron mounted to move toward and from the bed, of operating mechanism for the iron embodying camming means on the shaft of the rotary bed, a clutch interposed between the camming means and the shaft, a pivotally mounted member connecting the camming the movecamming means and the iron for eifectin means, and a movable support for the pivot of the pivotally' mounted lever to permit the movement of the iron toward and from the bed independently of the camming means.

19. In an ironing machine, the combination with a rotary bed and an iron mounted to move toward and from the bed, of operating mechanism for the iron embodying camming means on the shaft of the rotary bed, a clutch interposed between the camming means and the shaft, a pivotally mounted member connecting the camming means and the iron for effecting the movement of the iron through such camming means, and a pivotally mounted support for the pivot of the lever permitting the latter to be shifted relatively to the camming means for the purpose of moving the iron toward and from the bed independently of the camming means;

20. In an ironing machine, the combination with a rotary bed and an iron mounted to move toward and from the bed, of operating mechanism for the iron embodying 'camming means on the shaft of the rotary bed, a clutch interposed between the camming means and the shaft,- a pivotally mounted member connecting the camming I means and the iron for effecting the move ment of the iron through such camming means, and a toggle having a'connection with the pivot of the pivotally mounted member to permit the pivotally mounted member to be shifted relatively to the camming means for the purpose of effecting the movement of the iron relatively to the bed and independently of the camming means.

21. In an ironing machine, the combination with a rotary bed and an iron, one of which is movable toward and from the other, of a mechanism for turning the bed, mechanism for controlling the movement between the bed and the iron operated by said turning mechanism and including a cam and a device cooperating with said cam and having a normal tendency to niove to engage the entire working contour thereof during the turnlng of the cam, and means forlimiting the movementof said device toward the cam in order that the separating movement between the bed and the iron may be limited.

22. In an ironing machine, the combination with a rotary bed and an iron, one of which is movable toward and from the iron, and a device cooperating with the cam engaging device to vary the action of the cam engaging device on the cam, to'simultaneously increase the tension on the spring means and to limit the separation between ing movement between the bed and the iron.

RANDOLPH V. WELLER.

other, of a mechanism for turning the bed,

mechanism controlling the movement between the bed and the iron and operated with the bed turning mechanism, said controlling mechanism including a cam, a device engaging the cam and moved by the latter, a spring means connected to the cam engaging device to oppose the movement of said cam engaging device and to provide resilient pressure between the bed and the 

